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Cornwall in the First World War

The citation reads: "For conspicuous gallantry in action. Accompanied by another man, he rushed an enemy machine gun and shot two of the crew. Later he twice assisted his company commander in rallying the men when posts were rushed. He set a splendid example throughout."

Mr Rosewarne added: "He said it was the muddiest war ever fought. You didn't have to dig a trench. The water washed the ground away and you slept there.

"He said he slept in a cemetery once and all the graves faced the enemy. He always laughed about that."

On his return home after the war, Paul Rosewarne bought two army ambulances and converted them into buses and founded Rosewarnes' Motor Services.The firm would run for 80 years and change to car sales, including the creation of Hill Top garage at Sithney Common Hill.

One of the Rosewarnes' buses, made from a converted First World War ambulance

During the Second World war, he was promoted to captain and was second in command of the Home Guard in Porthleven. Mr Rosewarne said he was remembered for burying the body of a car in his front garden and converting it into an air raid shelter for the street's children.

This article was first published in the West Briton newspaper on June 14, 2016.

Remembering the First World War

Cornwall Live is running a series of features as we remember the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day on November 11.

We shall try to put the staggering loss to Cornwall - more than 6,300 men and women - into context and re-tell some of the stories of those who were there.